Against lefties, Yankees' outfielder Marcus Thames living right

Al Messerschmidt/Getty ImagesIt appears that Marcus Thames will get plenty of playing time against left-handers this season. He was in the starting lineup tonight against Red Sox southpaw Jon Lester.

BOSTON -- With left-hander Jon Lester on the mound for the Red Sox, the Yankees offered their first glimpse of how they intend to use outfielder Marcus Thames.

The veteran outfielder, who earned a spot with the club after signing a minor-league deal, started in left field against the Red Sox tonight. Thames batted eighth, ahead of Curtis Granderson, who hit ninth. The switch-hitter Nick Swisher hit seventh with Brett Gardner the odd man out.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Thames will start against most left-handed pitchers, though not necessarily always for Gardner.

"I know my role and that's what I've been doing for the last six years," Thames said. "And with the Yankees now it's the same thing. Just go with it."

Thames is a career .256 hitter with 40 homers in 691 plate appearances against lefties compared to .243 with 61 homers in 1,018 plate appearances against righties.

"The numbers against the left-handers is probably what spoke the loudest," Girardi said. "Gardy swung the bat great the other day but we want to get Marcus into the mix."

Granderson hit just .183 against lefties last season, making him Girardi's choice to hit last.

A few other items before the game:

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Damaso Marte's awful performance on Sunday was a result of a rust -- not a sign that his "cranky" left shoulder is still bothering him -- at least according to Girardi.

"He hasn't been out there in a while," Girardi said of Marte, whose shoulder soreness in the last week of spring training cost him at least one scheduled appearance.

In a tie game, with two outs in the seventh and with Kevin Youkilis at second base, Girardi summoned the lefty Marte to face the left-handed David Ortiz. Marte threw a slider beyond the reach of catcher Jorge Posada for a wild pitch that gave Youkilis third base.

Then, he threw a fastball that sailed so far from its intended target that Posada couldn't corral it. The play went down as a passed ball, allowing Youkilis to score the go-ahead run.

***Phil Hughes rejoined the team after a simulated start in Tampa against Yankees minor leaguers at extended spring training. Girardi said he will throw a bullpen on Wednesday and is scheduled to start in an extended spring game on Saturday.

Hughes remains on the active roster but is facing minor leaguers to stay stretched out until his first scheduled big league start, April 15 against the Angels.